Paging Bob

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Paging Bob

Post by Polly »

Hiya Bob,

Just want to take a minute to thank you for taking the time to educate us about all you have learned about endocrinology. The amount of very complex info that you have researched and presented is truly impressive. I would bet that you now know more about the adrenal and thyroid than 90% of the endocrinologists out there. I am not kidding - 90% may be a conservative estimate! LOL.

And I appreciate your sharing the "alternative" thinking, which, of course, is often more revelant than the current "medical practice standard". Isn't it terrific that we now have the internet and can have ALL of this info at our fingertips? If not for the internet, I am convinced I would never have learned how to put my MC into longterm remission. I think I would still be sick 5 years later.

I really don't want the info you have shared to get lost. It is apparent that others with MC have endocrine issues - whether it is from an associated autoimmune process or from stress (and I use this word broadly - a chronic illness like MC is a significant source of stress for the adrenals) or whatever.

Do you think you might have the time to write up an article (Adrenal/Thyroid 101) that we could post in one of the Informational Forums? Or, if you don't have the time, is there a way you could put all of the important links in one place? I think it would be good to have this info at anyone's fingertips. Maybe Wayne has some idea of where it could best be placed on the website.

Oh, and BTW, I remember what you said you did for a living, but are you also a writer, by any chance? I really love your writing style - you can go right to the crux of a complex issue, weed out all the chaff, and make it interesting and even humorous. I find myself chuckling at some of your expressions.

Thanks so much for your time and attention to our family here.

Love,

Polly
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Re: Paging Bob

Post by bobh »

Hi Polly - wow - thanks for the nice words!
Polly wrote:
Polly wrote: a chronic illness like MC is a significant source of stress for the adrenals
No kidding - wow. I actually never focused on that aspect, and you are right! I have so much baggage, my adrenals have to pull a number, and wait in line to get to the next source of stress....
Polly wrote: Do you think you might have the time to write up an article (Adrenal/Thyroid 101) that we could post in one of the Informational Forums?
yeah, that would be great. It may be a week or so untill I can get to it - the wife is out of town and I'm doing a tax marathon. (See Harvest Table, I do some exercise, once a year, whether I need it or not...)
Polly wrote: I would bet that you now know more about the adrenal and thyroid than 90% of the endocrinologists out there.
Wow, those patients are in deep S*** if that's true! (OK, it's true, and yes, they are in deep S***).
Polly wrote: Oh, and BTW, I remember what you said you did for a living, but are you also a writer, by any chance?
My experience in looking at damaged buildings gives ME

Hiya Bob,

Just want to take a minute to thank you for taking the time to educate us about all you have learned about endocrinology. The amount of very complex info that you have researched and presented is truly impressive. I would bet that you now know more about the adrenal and thyroid than 90% of the endocrinologists out there. I am not kidding - 90% may be a conservative estimate! LOL.

And I appreciate your sharing the "alternative" thinking, which, of course, is often more revelant than the current "medical practice standard". Isn't it terrific that we now have the internet and can have ALL of this info at our fingertips? If not for the internet, I am convinced I would never have learned how to put my MC into longterm remission. I think I would still be sick 5 years later.

I really don't want the info you have shared to get lost. It is apparent that others with MC have endocrine issues - whether it is from an associated autoimmune process or from stress (and I use this word broadly - a chronic illness like MC is a significant source of stress for the adrenals) or whatever.

Do you think you might have the time to write up an article (Adrenal/Thyroid 101) that we could post in one of the Informational Forums? Or, if you don't have the time, is there a way you could put all of the important links in one place? I think it would be good to have this info at anyone's fingertips. Maybe Wayne has some idea of where it could best be placed on the website.

Oh, and BTW, I remember what you said you did for a living, but are you also a writer, by any chance? I really love your writing style - you can go right to the crux of a complex issue, weed out all the chaff, and make it interesting and even humorous. I find myself chuckling at some of your expressions.

Thanks so much for your time and attention to our family here.

Love,

Polly [/quote]
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Re: Paging Bob

Post by bobh »

Wow - thanks for the kind words!

Sure, I would be happy to put something together. It may not be for a week or so, I am doing a tax marathon right now…
Polly wrote: I remember what you said you did for a living, but are you also a writer, by any chance?
I just look at damaged buildings, and am a woodworker. Which gives ME the right to tell THEM what they should do with the core hormones that create THEIR metabolism!!

It is a riot. Some of us have to learn so we can fix ourselves, and end up REALLY knowing the data, more than perhaps someone who studied a textbook. You, Tex, and Mike come to mind. I know your an MD, but you likely know more than a lot of Gastro's

Just yesterday I realized I was feeling a bit “wooden”, and did some research, and realized I had increased my Armours dose a bit faster than my body could handle. I cut back a bit and feel better today than in months. This stuff is magic for someone who has the problem with Adrenals or thyroid, and a low thyroid will eventually hammer the adrenals.

Thanks for asking, I will fit this in, and appreciate the opportunity.
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Post by tex »

Hi Polly,

Using the jargon of the younger generation, when I read your post this morning, I was like - WOW! This is obviously additional proof that great minds think alike. LOL. Exactly nine days ago, I also complimented Bob on his contributions here, except that you did it much more eloquently, and I'm ashamed to admit that I tacked my remarks onto a PM, in response to a question he had about setting up php forum permissions, (for the other board), rather than to post what I had to say for all the world to see.

Consequently, I'll copy what I said here, (for all the world to see). This is snipped out of a fairly long PM:

It's great to see that you seem to have finally found all the missing parts to the puzzle of your health issues, too. For the really tough cases, it seems that we usually have to become our own doctors, or at the very least, our own advocates.

You've been great about providing updates and insights, and we all sincerely appreciate all the information you've added to our knowledge base. Apparently you're also doing that at the other site, too, so that makes it pretty clear that, as the Germans would say, "you're a mensch, Bob Harvey".

Thanks for everything,
Wayne


Polly, thanks for posting this topic. I also agree with you that Bob has a unique style of writing, that zero's in on the meat of the topic, and allows him to present a tremendous amount of pertinent information, in a concise, down-to-earth manner, while always keeping it interesting, and, as you say, entertaining.

I'll say it again, Bob - Thanks for everything.

Wayne

P S I hope you come out a winner in that tax marathon.
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by bobh »

Hey, thanks to you 2 - or I would be using those 1040 forms for a "non-approved governmental purpose" as I would have been unable to afford Toilet Paper.

"You cannot earn a good living sitting on the throne"
(anonymous)
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Post by Beth »

Bob,

I'm chiming in here (belatedly) to say thank you a million times over. Your knowledge is incredible and so, so helpful. Thanks to you, I now feel confident that as soon as I've got all the pieces of the puzzle in front of me that I can try the meds thing without fear of turning into side effect freak.

Best of luck with the tax marathon (we're running one here, too!).
Beth
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Post by bobh »

Thanks! I am confident you will feel better with the metabolism fixed.
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Thank You

Post by Magyar »

Hi Bob,

A big thanks to you as well. I'm waiting to hear whether I'll get a scrip for Cortef, immunosuppressants or both. In the meantime, I appreciate all the insight you share.

Thanks,
Magyar
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Post by Reggie »

My thanks too, Bob. My appointment with the new fatigue doc is next Wednesday. I'm pretty well converted to your ideas.

As to the side effects of cortef, I was just reading something that says that the acne, hair growth and bone thinning are not side effects but symptoms of overdose. You shouldn't take so much that you notice any side effects at all.
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Post by bobh »

Thanks Reggie - if you are low on Cortisol you will feel better on Cortef.
Reggie wrote:As to the side effects of cortef, I was just reading something that says that the acne, hair growth and bone thinning are not side effects but symptoms of overdose.
Yep. I am always gathering references - do you have a link to that one?
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Post by cludwig »

Hi Bob,

Ditto. I feel like I am finally putting the pieces of the puzzle together and I so appreciate your generosity in sharing your experience.

I got the book you recommended ...From Fatigued to Fantastic. It feels like he is describing me exactly. I have everything except the immune problems.

It has been so confusing for me to figure out what is going on with my gut and from this book I think I have found the final problem. Removing gluten and all intolerances was helpful...but not amazing, then the gallbladder came out and I was doing well and started adding more to my diet and was slowly feeling poorly again. Last winter I had treated myself for a possible yeast infection...but with still having a bum gallbladder...I hadn't noticed a huge difference so I stopped treating myself in Jan.

Along with adding more foods I added more fruit and sugar with no immediate problems but as I said...very slowly I was feeling sick in my gut. So I read this book and it talks about CFS people having yeast problems in their gut so I stopped all fruit and sugar and within 2 days I am feeling so much better. It is the only thing I have ever tried with my diet where I have gotten such immediate results. Not only does my gut feel better but my anxiety is better as well.

The other thing I learned from this book is that to beat a yeast infection it may have to be treated for many months and possibly years. I am also wondering if my not having any bifido in my gut has allowed the yeast to take over and is why I get sick when I try probiotics.

The final thing I learned about the gut is that a side effect to taking diflucan (which I did for 6 weeks last year) is an elevated liver enzyme which they found at my Mayo appointment in Dec. So for me it is better to use the natural approach...caprylic acid pills and other natural meds.

I just never realized there was a connection between the gut and CFS . I made an appointment with the CFS clinic and will probably pay up the wazoo to get better but I have tried all the proper MD/ ins. covered paths with no help. Plus I already have the adrenal tests and an ACTH stimulation test that says I have adrenal fatigue. My appointment is in April so I will let you know how it goes.


Thanks again Bob for getting this process going.

Love,
Cristi
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Post by bobh »

Wow - lots of fish biting on this one... wow.
cludwig wrote:Plus I already have the adrenal tests and an ACTH stimulation test that says I have adrenal fatigue.
Sounds like the 10,000 'th person that gets a diagnosis, but no roadmap as to where you go from here. There are solutions to this stuff...

glad you are feeling better!
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Post by mle_ii »

cludwig wrote:Plus I already have the adrenal tests and an ACTH stimulation test that says I have adrenal fatigue.
What exactly were the results of the ACTH test? This can explain low adrenal activity, but I just want to make sure that you are correclty addressing where the problem lies.
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Post by bobh »

For those of you up in the grandstands, watching Mike and Christi - let me interject. ACTH is what the pituitary puts out to tell the Adrenals to make more Cortisol (Adrenocorticotropic hormone) http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pa ... /acth.html

This test is done to determine if an adrenal insufficiency is due to tired adrenals (Primary Insufficiency) or because of the hypothalamus-pituitary not sending out signals (Secondary Insufficiency).
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Post by cludwig »

Hi Mike,

There in is my problem....the MD who did the test up and moved to Florida. So I don't fully understand what the test is saying. He said it showed I had adrenal fatigue with low levels of cortisol, Dhea and testosterone. At the same time I had a blood test from another MD who said my Dhea was high. This was all happening when I was going to Mayo to figure out my gut issues and I got confused and side tracked so I didn't do anything....better to do nothing until I could understand why the two tests were different.

Hopefully the CFS doctor can help me put this all together. I would assume that it was caused from primary insufficiency rather than secondary as the latter would require more tests???

Love,
Cristi
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